Hors d'oeuvres - the latest, most interesting news

This part of our website has been prepared to extend our Railvolution news service. Its objective is to offer you snippets of the latest, most interesting news, accompanied by photos. On one hand this will let you to have a sneak preview of what the forthcoming number of Railvolution will contain. On the other, it will enable our editorial staff to provide you with information that is at their fingertips – and why waste exciting pieces of news while waiting until we have the printed version of the magazine ready for distribution? What is more, on the website pages we are in a position to publish photos for which there will be insufficient space in the printed magazine!

Please bear in mind that it is not our intention to 'digitalise' Railvolution! The printed magazine will still continue, with its full range of articles and news items. But we hope that you enjoy this new offering, and that it will stimulate your interest in our unique publication.

DMV Rail Cargo Receives Vectron ACs

19 Mar 2018 09:28

On the night of 12/13 March 2018 the Bulgarian operator DMV Rail Cargo took delivery of two Vectron ACs. This photo shows them on the 13th at the Express Service works at Obraztsov chiflik, near Ruse. Closest to the camera is 192 961, this being a 5,600 kW machine formerly used by Siemens as reserve stock, while the other one is 193 972, a standard 6,400 kW Vectron, recently built for this order. They are scheduled to enter service in late April, hauling fuel oil trains from Vratsa.

ÖBB Presents First Vectron

On 5 March 2018 at Wien-Praterstern ÖBB organised the presentation of the first of the 30 Vectron MS locomotives it ordered in January 2017. It is numbered 1293 001, and is to be formally be handed over in late May. These photos were taken not only during the event, but also afterwards, with 1293 001 running between Wien Rennweg and Wien Hauptbahnhof.

ZSSK Takes Delivery Of More Vectrons

28 Feb 2018 15:38

On 25 February 2018, 383.104, 105, 106 and 107 reached Slovakia. These are the next four Vectrons out of the batch of ten to be hired by ZSSK from S Rail Lease. This photo shows them at Kittsee, the last station prior to the Slovakian border and Bratislava-Petržalka. Their formal hand-over will result in ZSSK having seven Vectrons.

Vectron MS 383.202, carrying an EVN of S Rail Lease, made a test run near München on 23 February. Its future operator is as yet unknown, but it is quite possible that it will be used on freight services in Slovakia.

New Sofia Metro Train On Test

27 Feb 2018 12:24

One of the 20 new Inspiro EMUs ordered by Metropolitan EAD and destined for the Sofia metro is currently being subjected to testing at Wegberg-Wildenrath. This photo shows the first three-car train on the T1 test circuit on 28 February 2018.

New Vectrons For ČD Cargo And For Others

On 21 December 2017 the last two Vectron MS locomotives so far ordered by ČD Cargo, 383.007 and 008, crossed Germany en route to the VUZ Velim test centre. This photo shows them near Schkortleben, south of Halle. They arrived at Velim on the 22nd. It is planned to hand them over to ČD Cargo early in the New Year.

There have also been other recent deliveries of Vectrons, both instances involving the first locomotives of batches on order. The next photo in this sequence shows 193 461 and 462. These are the first of 18 Vectron MSes on order for LokRoll, which is to hire them to SBB Cargo International. This photo was taken in München-Allach works. The two locomotives departed from there on 11 December, bound for Switzerland. They are now being used for staff training purposes, both on light engine runs, and hauling commercial freights.

The third photo was taken on 1 December 2017. It shows 476 451, the first of seven Vectron AC LM locomotives ordered by Coop subsidiary railCare. The photo was taken at Schafisheim, where 476 451 started service that day. Since then it has been employed regularly on freights between there and Felsberg in Graubünden canton. Here, on track shared with RhB, it uses catenary energised at 11 kV AC.

First RegioJet Train Visits Wien

30 Nov 2017 21:34

On 30 November 2017, a RegioJet train, hauled by Vectron 193 205, entered Wien Hbf. This was part of the preparations prior to the start of regular Praha - Wien services on 10 December. RegioJet owner, Radim Jančura, says that when the service starts the trains will be formed of rakes of five or six yellow-liveried carriages. During 2018 it is expected the trains will have up to nine cars.

First ČD-Liveried Vectron On Passenger Service

21 Nov 2017 11:57

During the afternoon of 20 November 2017 193 295, one of the Vectrons hired by ČD from ELL, hauled its first regular passenger train, this being Ex 537 “Budvar” Praha-Holešovice - České Budějovice. This photo shows it prior to departure from Praha hl. n.

First Vectron For ZSSK

16 Nov 2017 22:32

On 4 October 2017 the results of ZSSK’s invitation to tender for the hire of ten multi-system electrics was made known, when Bratislava based S Rail Lease was nominated preferred bidder. Under the terms of the contract three of the locomotives are to be delivered by 10 December 2017. The first one, 383 101, arrived at Bratislava-Petržalka on 16 November 2017.

New Motive Power For Unipetrol Doprava

26 Oct 2017 22:08

Czech operator Unipetrol Doprava recently placed an order with Siemens for three Vectron MSs and with CZ LOKO for two EffiLiner 1600 modernised diesels. The first locomotives from both these batches are now ready. The Vectron is 383.050, while the EffiLiner is 753.606. This photo shows the Vectron on 26 October, when it was handed over to Unipetrol Doprava at VUZ Velim test centre. The other two Vectrons are to follow in spring 2018, while the other EffiLiner will be ready by the end of 2017.

First Rhein-Ruhr-Express Desiro HC EMUs Presented

On 12 July 2017 at the Wegberg-Wildenrath test centre, Siemens presented to the media the first three Desiro HC prototype EMUs destined for RRX services. While 462 002 and 003 were shown in one of the test halls, 001 made a series of demonstration runs round the test circuit. The trains are scheduled to enter service in late 2018.